Another beheaded in Ekiti land crisis

Ekiti police has confirmed a second person was beheaded on Wednesday over the raging land crisis between Ayede-Ekiti and Itaji-Ekiti communities.

The crisis is over the control of Orisunmibare settlement in Oye council area of Ekiti.

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The latest death came one week after an Ayede indigene, Seyi Oladipo, was killed. Oladipo’s death infuriated Ayede youths prompting them to stage a protest at Itaji.

It was gathered that unknown persons were said to have trailed a farmer from Orisunmibare to his farm where he was beheaded and his hands cut off.

His assailants were said to have inflicted several machete cuts on him before cutting off his head and hands after which they made away with the severed head.

The Asiwaju of Orisunmibare, Chief Segun Akanbi, was also inflicted with machete wounds by suspected Ayede youths who accused him of firing the shot that killed Oladipo.

The exodus was triggered by the fear of a possible outbreak of communal war between Ayede and Itaji battling for ownership of Orisunmibare.

The Onitaji, Oba Adamo Babalola, claimed that the perpetrators of the attack were from Ayede who are now launching sporadic attacks on Orisunmibare in a bid to take over the land.

Speaking with reporters in a telephone chat on Wednesday, Oba Babalola described the victim’s killing as unfortunate calling on the warring people to embrace peace.

He maintained that Orisunmibare is a settlement under Itaji wondering why Ayede people want to claim the land "by all means."

The monarch said: "Orisunmibare is a settlement under Itaji and is more than 10 kilometers from Ayede; Ayede people just went there one morning on rampage and the scuffle led to the death of somebody from Ayede.

"But yesterday, an Orisunmibare subject was killed inside his farm and he was beheaded. The Asiwaju of Orisunmibare was macheted and beaten to coma and was declared dead by Ayede youths.

"The Ayede people were singing that they had killed Asiwaju Orisunmibare but he has been taken to the hospital where he is still under observation. But we have been experiencing sporadic attacks from Ayede people and they have been threatening our peace since then.

"The police have been trying to maintain peace but we are disturbed by sporadic attacks especially the ones carried out on the farm. Orisunmibare has been there for many years and the land is under Itaji."

Ekiti police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi said investigation into the latest killing was under way. Details of the victims are yet to be released.

Adeyemi said: "It is true that somebody was beheaded and the mutilated body found on the farm. Since the crisis started, two persons have been charged to court while Akanbi too will be charged to court immediately he leaves the hospital."